TGV 001
Encyclopedia
TGV 001 was a high-speed railway train built in France. It was the first TGV
prototype and was commissioned in 1969, to begin testing in 1972. The TGV 001 was an experimental gas turbine-electric locomotive
-powered trainset built by Alstom
to break speed records between 250–300 kilometre per hour.
The experimental train was part of a vast research program on high rail speeds. This program covered all technical aspects, principally traction, the behaviour of the vehicles, braking, aerodynamics and signalling. Originally, two trains were to be built, but only one was produced. The second was to be a tilting train
equipped with an active tilting system, but was abandoned owing to technical difficulties.
was built in a radically different fashion than its predecessors (the ETG and the RTG
); it was composed of two locomotives and three carriages, all with driving wheels. This concept as well as the shape of the TGV 001 was kept when designing the future TGV
.
Each axle
was equipped with electric motors with the advantage of small weight per axle but maximum power. Electric traction permitted dynamic braking, particularly effective at high speeds. Each locomotive was equipped with two turbines (TURMO III G then TURMO X), also used in the Super Frelon
helicopters. As well as having direct control of the turbines, the locomotives were equipped with traction, braking and signalling controls.
The TGV 001 was an articulated train; each carriage shared one bogie
with the next. This setup ensured greater stability and permitted the suspension to be placed near the centre of gravity of each carriage, thus reducing rolling in curves.
(for a gas turbine-powered train) at 318 kilometres per hour, this train never saw commercial use.
TGV 001 still holds the world speed record for a gas turbine-electric locomotive
, having travelled at 318 kilometres per hour on 8 December 1972.
The 1973 oil crisis
caused a sharp increase in the price of oil, after which it was deemed impractical to use oil to power the TGV, and the project turned to electric
traction.
Tests officially concluded on 19 June 1978.
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
prototype and was commissioned in 1969, to begin testing in 1972. The TGV 001 was an experimental gas turbine-electric locomotive
Gas turbine-electric locomotive
A gas turbine - electric locomotive, or GTEL, is a locomotive that uses a gas turbine to drive an electric generator or alternator. The electric current thus produced is used to power traction motors. This type of locomotive was first experimented with during the Second World War, but reached its...
-powered trainset built by Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
to break speed records between 250–300 kilometre per hour.
The experimental train was part of a vast research program on high rail speeds. This program covered all technical aspects, principally traction, the behaviour of the vehicles, braking, aerodynamics and signalling. Originally, two trains were to be built, but only one was produced. The second was to be a tilting train
Tilting train
A tilting train is a train that has a mechanism enabling increased speed on regular rail tracks. As a train rounds a curve at speed, objects inside the train experience centrifugal force. This can cause packages to slide about or seated passengers to feel squashed by the outboard armrest due to...
equipped with an active tilting system, but was abandoned owing to technical difficulties.
Description
This turbotrainTurbotrain
The Turbotrain was an early French high-speed, gas turbine train.It was born in 1967, for use on France's SNCF intercity lines. There were several versions, four in total with the last exiting service in 2005 and it is the Turbotrain that made advances possible for the TGV.* The experimental...
was built in a radically different fashion than its predecessors (the ETG and the RTG
SNCF Class T 2000
SNCF Class T 2000 trainsets, also known under their French acronym RTG , were the second generation of turbine-powered trains in France and saw commercial service from 1972 to 2004....
); it was composed of two locomotives and three carriages, all with driving wheels. This concept as well as the shape of the TGV 001 was kept when designing the future TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
.
Each axle
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
was equipped with electric motors with the advantage of small weight per axle but maximum power. Electric traction permitted dynamic braking, particularly effective at high speeds. Each locomotive was equipped with two turbines (TURMO III G then TURMO X), also used in the Super Frelon
Aérospatiale Super Frelon
The Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon is a three-engined heavy transport helicopter produced by Aérospatiale of France. The helicopter is still in use in China where the locally produced version is known as the Z-8. "Frelon" is French for hornet....
helicopters. As well as having direct control of the turbines, the locomotives were equipped with traction, braking and signalling controls.
The TGV 001 was an articulated train; each carriage shared one bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
with the next. This setup ensured greater stability and permitted the suspension to be placed near the centre of gravity of each carriage, thus reducing rolling in curves.
Service
Despite setting the land speed record for railed vehiclesLand speed record for railed vehicles
Determination of the fastest rail vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of "rail".Official absolute world record for conventional train is held by the French TGV...
(for a gas turbine-powered train) at 318 kilometres per hour, this train never saw commercial use.
History
TGV 001 was finished on 24 March 1972 and began to undergo testing on 4 April 1972. It went on to carry out 5227 test runs, running half a million kilometres and breaking the 300 kilometres per hour barrier 175 times.TGV 001 still holds the world speed record for a gas turbine-electric locomotive
Gas turbine-electric locomotive
A gas turbine - electric locomotive, or GTEL, is a locomotive that uses a gas turbine to drive an electric generator or alternator. The electric current thus produced is used to power traction motors. This type of locomotive was first experimented with during the Second World War, but reached its...
, having travelled at 318 kilometres per hour on 8 December 1972.
The 1973 oil crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
caused a sharp increase in the price of oil, after which it was deemed impractical to use oil to power the TGV, and the project turned to electric
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
traction.
Tests officially concluded on 19 June 1978.
Preservation
- T 001 : BischheimBischheimBischheim can refer to the following:*a municipality in the German district of Donnersbergkreis; see Bischheim, Germany*a canton in France; see Canton of Bischheim*a town in this canton; see Bischheim, Bas-Rhin...
(Bas-RhinBas-RhinBas-Rhin is a department of France. The name means "Lower Rhine". It is the more populous and densely populated of the two departments of the Alsace region, with 1,079,013 inhabitants in 2006.- History :...
), - T 002 : BelfortBelfortBelfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
(Territoire de BelfortTerritoire de BelfortThe Territoire de Belfort is a department in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France.-Administration:Its departmental code is 90, and its prefecture is Belfort...
).
See also
- TurbotrainTurbotrainThe Turbotrain was an early French high-speed, gas turbine train.It was born in 1967, for use on France's SNCF intercity lines. There were several versions, four in total with the last exiting service in 2005 and it is the Turbotrain that made advances possible for the TGV.* The experimental...
- Gas turbine-electric locomotiveGas turbine-electric locomotiveA gas turbine - electric locomotive, or GTEL, is a locomotive that uses a gas turbine to drive an electric generator or alternator. The electric current thus produced is used to power traction motors. This type of locomotive was first experimented with during the Second World War, but reached its...
- Gas turbine trainGas turbine trainA gas turbine train, is a passenger train that uses one or more gas turbines as its main source of power. Few passenger trains use this system today, although there has been one recent prototype built by Bombardier Transportation.-Description:...
- SNCFSNCFThe SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
- British Rail APT-EBritish Rail APT-EThe APT-E, for Advanced Passenger Train Experimental, was the prototype Advanced Passenger Train tilting train unit. It was powered by gas turbines, the only multiple unit so powered that was used by British Rail. The APT-E consisted of two driving power cars and two trailer cars...